LEWISTON — The 18th edition of the Maine Music Society’s popular “Battle of the Blends” is slated for Saturday, Nov. 5, when the annual celebration of a cappella singing brings five vocal groups to the Franco-American Heritage Center.

Judith Andrucki, long-time organizer of Battle of the Blends through the years, said, “It’s wonderful that about 100 singers from all over Maine and New England are coming to lend their voices and help raise money for the Maine Music Society.” The groups range in size from quartet to large vocal ensembles of several dozen singers.

Andrucki said the 15-voice chorus of the Saco River Jazz Vocal Ensemble will offer a program of swing, bebop and jazz standards of the big-band era.

“They are very professional with a really smooth blend,” she said.

“TakeNote,” a co-ed group from Bates College, is new to the “Battle of the Blends” concerts. It debuted in 2008 as a classic rock a cappella group. TakeNote’s membership numbers about a dozen singers and their repertoire includes hits by the Beatles, Billy Joel and Michael Bublé.

“Talk to the Hand” is the name of a female a cappella quartet based in Massachusetts. Andrucki said they perform pop, rock and country numbers. Their repertoire also covers several decades.

“The Downeasters” is the largest group appearing in “Battle of the Blends XVIII.” Based in Portland, it has several dozen members representing this area of the Barbershop Harmony Society’s Northeastern District. The Barbershop Harmony Society is the world’s largest all-male singing organization.

Andrucki said The Downeasters are competing in the Northeast “Harmony Sweepstakes.” In addition to performing a cappella arrangements as a large group, The Downeasters break up into subsets of the full chorus for several songs.

“None of the Above” is an eight-voice ensemble that has been in previous “Battle of the Blends” concerts.

“I’m thrilled that they are back this year,” Andrucki said. “They have a fabulous blend and their program goes from early music to folk songs and cutting edge modern numbers.”

Andrucki and Rick Rau work together in organizing the annual a cappella concerts. She said members of the Maine Music Society’s Androscoggin Chorale will be hosting a dinner for the 100-or-so singers who are coming to take part in this year’s concert.

Other Maine Music Society performances in coming months of its 20th anniversary season include “A Heritage Christmas” Dec. 10-11 in Lewiston and Dec. 18 in South Paris; “My Favorite Mozart” March 31 and April 1; and “Music from the Movies – Broadway Musicals on Film” May 19-20. There also is a wine tasting fund raiser in February.

The Maine Music Society supports the artistic and educational activities of two performing bodies, the Androscoggin Chorale and its professional orchestra, the Maine Chamber Ensemble.

Tickets for “Battle of the Blends XVIII” can be purchased online at the Maine Music Society Web site, www.mainemusicsociety.org, or by calling 782-7228. Tickets for adults are $20 and children under 12 are admitted free.

The Franco-American Heritage Center is located at the Cedar and Oxford Streets in Lewiston.